China is taking a significant leap in high-speed rail technology with the development of the CR450, a train that could soon hold the title of the world’s fastest commercial high-speed rail. The CR450 has already demonstrated impressive capabilities, achieving test speeds of 450 kilometers per hour (281 miles per hour), with plans for operational speeds around 400 kilometers per hour (248.5 miles per hour). This would surpass China’s current CR400 model, which entered service in 2017 and operates at 350 kilometers per hour (217 miles per hour).

Recent footage released by CCTV highlights the CR450 undergoing extensive tests and evaluations. Engineers at the Locomotive and Vehicle Research Institute of the China Academy of Railway Sciences (CARS) have focused on optimizing the train’s design, particularly concerning weight management. The goal is to reduce mass without compromising the structural integrity of the train. As Chen Can, an associate researcher at CARS, explains, “While reducing the weight, we must ensure that its strength does not decrease, and we even need to increase its strength because of the higher speed. It’s like a person who wants to slim down while building strength. This involves structural changes and material innovations.”

The CR450 is equipped with state-of-the-art technology to achieve the necessary balance between speed, stability, and safety. For example, engineers have installed sensors along the tracks to monitor weight distribution in real time, sending data to a monitoring system for precision adjustments. To reduce air resistance—an especially critical factor at these high speeds—researchers have also enclosed the entire bogie area beneath the train for the first time.

“Ensuring the smoothness of the entire train body minimizes resistance during operation,” said Ha Dalei, a senior designer at the National Engineering Research Center of Rail Transportation at CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd.

In addition, the CR450 is powered by an advanced permanent magnet traction water-cooled system, offering increased efficiency and performance. The upgraded bogie design contributes to improved stability, while more than 4,000 sensors are integrated throughout the train to monitor everything from the car body and pantograph to the fire detection and train control systems. A multi-level emergency braking system has also been incorporated for enhanced safety.

China is no stranger to record-breaking trains. The Shanghai Maglev, which uses magnetic levitation technology, holds the title for the fastest train in regular service, reaching speeds of 431 kilometers per hour (268 miles per hour). However, with the CR450, China is set to extend its dominance in high-speed rail, surpassing not only its own records but also competing systems globally.

Despite fierce competition from France’s TGV, Japan’s Shinkansen, and Spain’s AVE Class 103, China remains the global leader in commercial high-speed rail operations, currently running trains at speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour. The CR450’s planned operating speed of 400 kilometers per hour would further solidify China’s position at the forefront of high-speed rail technology.

Although the CR450 prototypes have successfully completed static and low-speed dynamic tests, engineers plan to continue refining the system through future trials. These will focus on further reducing vibrations, cutting energy consumption, and minimizing noise levels to ensure the train performs optimally in real-world conditions.

Once fully operational, the CR450 will not only be the fastest high-speed train on the planet but also make China home to the three fastest trains in the world, cementing its status as a leader in the global high-speed rail revolution.

By Impact Lab